2 Samuel 2:14

14. Let the young men now arise, and play before us Implying that the contest between the house of Saul and the house of David should be decided by this action of the young warriors. This would save a needless effusion of blood, and Joab accepted the challenge. שׂחק , to play, would thus mean the war play of single combat, and the bloody consequences showed that this was the understanding of the contending parties.